Our inability to break down teams that park the bus and play on the break.
Brentford were interesting - they pressed us doggedly when we had the ball in our defensive third, allowed us to have the ball throughout the middle of the pitch, and regrouped 25-30 yards out in their defense to thwart our attacking threat.
This is why we had so much possession but were toothless with it, along with making mistakes and going long from defense.
It is this method of play that did for us 9 or 10 out of the 12 defeats so far this season. It's clear to me many other teams attempted it but we still prevailed in those games, or we drew. But there have been enough times that we failed against this style that it meant we have not been promoted auto.
The whole set of players have shown how unbelievably good they actually are though and I love the style.
Bielsa and his team are awesome, but it is clear to me he also needs another way of looking at this specific aspect. Yes, we will lose some games, but 12 so far is 5 or 6 too many.
We also need some new players -
- Izzy Brown was a failed gamble,
- Saiz not being replaced,
- can't rely on very young kids who blow hot and cold or can only play well if they have a lot of space to run into - send them out on loan
- Douglas never shone,
- Harrison got better and better but still can't cross; he's young and will get better but not quite there for us right now
- Bamford needs extra coaching on all parts of his game (hold up, challenging central defenders, movement, speed, strength, shooting). He has potential for all that, but needs to up all of it
The big draw is that, now British football knows what Bielsa can do and the fantastic style of play, as long as we keep him and if we don;t go up, we may have our pick of some really good players on loan from top PL teams.
What needs to change?
posted on 28/4/19
So not the same side then
posted on 28/4/19
Nothing. Job done today. Direby and Villa making out like they are are our biggest rivals now. If we can’t be up for play offs now we may as well give up
posted on 28/4/19
Haha if same players available yes.
Key thing is drop Harrison and play Roberts wide. Keep 3 centre kids on with Klich Phillips and Forshaw
posted on 28/4/19
I wouldn’t want to play us in the play-offs,
posted on 28/4/19
No point talking about changes when there are 3 games left (minimum). Wait till the season is over to talk about players and signings.
Leeds should play Roberts on the wing as they did second half today. Much more threatening than Dallas or Harrison and is a goal threat himself. Forshaw added a bit more of a solid midfield than Roberts does at 10 and keeps hold of the ball very well in tight spaces.
posted on 28/4/19
Cant change much when you have limited options with the players you have. We have never had a plan B.
All we can do is get our heads down and try and win the playoffs. If not then i hope Bielsa understands the tweaks needed to get us up next season.
posted on 28/4/19
I was commenting on general games where a team comes to park the bus and play on the counter. Villa did not do that, they came to compete. We could play our normal game today - not sure our semifinal play-off opponents will give us that luxury
posted on 28/4/19
comment by Long Short Tall 666 (U19233)
posted 1 minute ago
I was commenting on general games where a team comes to park the bus and play on the counter. Villa did not do that, they came to compete. We could play our normal game today - not sure our semifinal play-off opponents will give us that luxury
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good point although from 75 minutes on we played against a brick wall and failed
posted on 28/4/19
Made some good chances, which were on target, and Roberts caused havoc. And they were still open on the wings. Don;t think Villa know how to park the bus properly. On another day, we might have had a couple
posted on 28/4/19
Id play Roberts on the left over Harrison any day. Looked good there